Gwen L. Coleman

Of Counsel

Gwen L. Coleman is Of Counsel to the Firm’s Litigation and Product Liability Practice Groups.

She has extensive experience as national counsel and local counsel defending product liability and mass tort litigations involving medical devices (latex gloves, breast implants), pharmaceuticals (phen-fen, HIV blood factor) and consumer products. She is currently a member of a national team responsible for developing scientific and medical defenses in benzene cases pending throughout the United States. She has also successfully defended personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from workplace exposure to benzene, asbestos and silica. The majority of these cases were dismissed through summary judgment or voluntary stipulations of dismissal, and the remainder were settled for nominal amounts.

Ms. Coleman previously served as a member of a national counsel team defending two manufacturers in the latex glove product liability litigation. In addition to the daily management of more than fifty cases, she was responsible for conducting plaintiff depositions; critically reviewing the scientific literature to develop scientific defenses; assisting with expert deposition and trial preparation; working with local counsel; and preparing discovery and dispositive motions.

Ms. Coleman has defended her clients in various types of personal injury and wrongful death actions. Her responsibilities in these cases have included supervising large scale document reviews and productions (some of which were maintained electronically); developing defense strategies and alternate theories of causation; identifying, developing and preparing scientific and medical expert witnesses; conducting and defending depositions of plaintiffs and fact witnesses; preparing and defending corporate witnesses for depositions; preparing and arguing dispositive and discovery motions, and trial preparation. She has critically reviewed medical records and has analyzed scientific literature in the areas of allergy, immunology, toxicology and epidemiology to develop defense strategies in these litigations. She has also participated in numerous mock trials on behalf of her clients.

She has played a leading role in all aspects of pre-trial, trial and appellate proceedings.

Ms. Coleman is a former Member of the Firm’s Hiring Committee and Professional Relations Committee.